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We share great video production tips and teach you how to make video, especially online marketing videos. We want you to record video like a pro using simple tools like your smartphone, which is like having a movie studio in your pocket. We'll help you improve the quality of your video and sound. Mostly we recommend using free tools but sometimes it makes sense to spend a little money to avoid wasting your time.

Why you need to use YouTube Cards and End Screens

YouTube Annotations. They are
a bit like Marmite, you either love them or you hate them.

As a viewer you may think
they are ugly and often hide the video you want to watch. But if you are a YouTube
creator you will know annotations have been one of your best friends. When
introduced by YouTube they helped Creators grow their channels by encouraging
fans to subscribe, lead them to other related videos, boost comments, likes and
shares, Annotation can even facilitate the sale of merchandise. So if
Annotations are so good, why is YouTube doing away with them from Tuesday May 2nd
2017?

The big problem for
Annotations is that they are old technology that does not work on mobile. Annotations
were introduced in 2008 when our e-lives were firmly tied to desktop computers.
Mobile networks were relatively slow and streaming HD videos to your phone was
a bizarre notion for most people. Almost ten years later everything has moved
on. Desktop viewing has been overtaken by mobile and annotations have not kept
pace because they were never intended to be mobile friendly.

In 2015 YouTube introduced Cards,
which were meant to be a mobile friendly replacement for Annotations, however
Cards did not provide the same functionality. Then in 2016 End Screens were
launched, again usable on mobiles but restricted to appearing on the last 20sec
of a video. The fact that Cards and End Screens are not direct replacements for
Annotations is perhaps not surprising. YouTube have said that viewers on
average close 12 annotations before they click on one, which suggests viewers
do not like them or the way they are being used. With such evidence why would
YouTube introduce Annotations Mk II that work on mobile? With Cards and End
Screens YouTube have provided the main benefits of Annotations but restricted
what Creators can do, thereby avoiding viewers.

Although some Creators have
complained about the demise of Annotations their use has dropped by over 70
percent as the new mobile friendly tools had been adopted. The fact that Cards
and End Screens also produce seven time more clicks across YouTube than
Annotations must also have been a big reason behind the move.

So if you have videos on
YouTube what will this mean? As from 2nd May 2017, you will not be
able to add new or edit existing annotations. But viewers will continue to see
your existing Annotations on desktop computers. Fortunately, you will be able
to delete your Annotations post May 2nd, very handy if you have Annotations
that show product prices or other details that may change in the future.

If you are a die-hard
Annotation user and the majority of your watch time is from desktop users, check
and update your existing Annotations before YouTube remove your ability to do
so. Update anything that needs updating, make your Annotations as attractive as
possible and of course make them user friendly.

Colour is more important to your business than you might
think. If you get it right you can influence your customers positively but if
you get it wrong your business will suffer as you give out the wrong message to
the wider world about your brand. The colours you use can significantly
influence potential customers when they judge you, your company and your product.
Apparently almost 85% of consumers claim the colour was the primary reason why they
bought a particular product. In the case of Heinz they made an extra $23m by
changing the colour of their ketchup, but more on that later. Colour can also
help create the story about your brand. If someone has no prior knowledge of
your business the colour and design of your logo will influence their
perception of your brand. Changing the colour alone can also change the brand
personality.

With the importance of colour in mind I spoke to
interior designer and colour consultant Jane Chrumka from Harmony Ridge Interior
…

Today's post is based on a seminar presented by Liz Melville to a packed room during the Social Media and Marketing Show in Edinburgh in July of 2015. Liz has built three businesses using social media and currently runs her own Social media company helping clients to use social media effectively to generate real sales. However, the trick on Facebook, as you will discover below is not to SELL, SELL, SELL. You can watch the video I took of Liz's seminar (you'll get more details by watching) or you can read the summary that is the post below. Whichever you prefer I suspect it will change the way you use Facebook.

Research your ideal customer You need to know who is your ideal audience. Who do you want to find? You have to know who you’re looking for on social media. You might say, it’s everyone, but you would be wrong, that’s not your ideal audience. You need to think about who you really want to talk to and reach on Facebook and then tailor your message to them. So you need t…